By:
Chuck Woods (352) 392-1773 x 281Source:
Andrew Schmitz aschmitz@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-1845, ext. 415
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — International agricultural trade disputes will be the focus of a March 20-21 conference hosted by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Gainesville.
“The conference, which will examine ongoing trade disputes in North America involving the United States, Canada, Mexico and China, will include case studies on beef, dairy, garlic, grain, lumber, shrimp, sugar and tomato imports and exports,” said Andrew Schmitz, a professor and eminent scholar in UF’s food and resource economics department.
Schmitz and Won Koo, a professor of agricultural economics at North Dakota State University in Fargo, are organizing the conference, which will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Gainesville.
“More than 30 national and international experts will evaluate many of the criteria used for resolving disputes, including the World Trade Organization’s growing role,” Schmitz said. “Environmental issues and subsidies, along with issues such as country-of-origin labeling and the role of multinational corporations, will be discussed by experts from Canada, Mexico and the U.S.”
Sponsors of the conference include UF’s International Agricultural Trade and Policy Center, Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies at North Dakota State University, Center for North American Studies at Texas A&M University, Center for Agricultural Business at Fresno State University, Center for the Study of Agricultural Law and the Environment at the University of Saskatchewan, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, American Farm Bureau Federation and Florida Farm Bureau.
The program opens at 8 a.m. Thursday with welcoming remarks from Joe Joyce, UF associate vice president for agriculture and natural resources, followed by an overview presentation by Carl Loop, president of the Florida Farm Bureau. Other speakers during the two-day conference include officials from the U.S. International Trade Commission, and universities and law firms in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The conference registration fee is $125 by March 10 and $175 after that date. For more information contact Schmitz at (352) 392-1845, ext. 415 aschmitz@mail.ifas.ufl.edu or visit the conference Web site: http://www.fred.ifas.ufl.edu/news/fre/agtradedispute
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